Attacking Ayyappa devotee; Man arrested for spreading fake photo

Mannar: Police arrested a man who unleashed a malign campaign on social media in connection with the Sabarimala issue. Mannar Kulanjikkarazhma native Rajesh R. Kurup was arrested by Mannar CI Jose Mathew and team.

The man was arrested after DYFI Chennithala area secretary S. Sarath Babu lodged a complaint with the district police chief.

A picture in which Rajesh carrying ‘Irumudikkettu’ and an idol of Lord Ayyappa was seen with a leg wearing Khaki pants and boots placed on his chest and another picture in which a sickle is held against the neck of Rajesh who is in the same costume. These pictures were spread on Facebook.

After the pictures led to a whirl of controversy, both pictures disappeared from Facebook. The culprit revealed to the police that he arranged a photoshoot in order to express his protest over the police action in Sabarimala and later he deleted the pictures when it led to a controversy.

The police took his mobile phone into custody. This will be handed over to cyber cell for obtaining more evidence. The police have charged cases for defamation, attempt to create communal tension and Kerala Police Act against the culprit. Rajesh was later released on bail.

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